Configuring mobile device in an activity configuration responsive to a recreational implement being in a use configuration

Abstract

A sensor indicates when a recreational implement such as a musical instrument or sporting gear is about to used, to configure a mobile device with an activity configuration, such as opening an app associated with the implement, only when the implement is determined to be proximate to the mobile device and is being or is about to be used, as may be indicated by, e.g., the sensor being located to detect when a container of the implement is open.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A device, comprising:
 computer storage accessible to at least one processor, the computer storage not being a transitory signal and comprising instructions executable by the at least one processor to perform a method comprising: 
 identifying whether a recreational implement is proximate to a mobile computing device; 
 identifying whether the recreational implement is in a use state; 
 establishing an activity configuration of the mobile computing device responsive to identifying that the recreational implement is in a use state; and 
 not establishing the activity configuration of the mobile computing device responsive to identifying that the recreational implement is not in a use state; 
 presenting on an output device as part of the activity configuration at least one user interface (UI) comprising: 
 at least one indication related to the recreational implement; 
 at least a first selector selectable to turn off an audio recorder, which is configured to be “on” responsive to a signal indicating the recreational implement is in the use state; 
 at least a second selector selectable to turn off touchless input mode, which is configured to be “on” responsive to the signal indicating the recreational implement is in the use state. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , comprising the at least one processor, wherein the instructions are executable by the at least one processor to:
 identify, based at least in part on a signal transmitted from at least one transmitter, whether the recreational implement is proximate to the mobile computing device; 
 identify whether at least one signal from at least one sensor assembly associated with the recreational implement indicates the use state, the at least one sensor assembly being different from the at least one transmitter; 
 responsive to identifying both that the recreational implement is proximate to the mobile computing device and that at least one signal from the at least one sensor assembly indicates the use state, invoke the activity configuration; and 
 responsive to identifying either that the recreational implement is not proximate to the mobile computing device or that at least one signal from the at least one sensor assembly does not indicate the use state, not invoke the activity configuration. 
 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 2 , wherein the recreational implement comprises a human-manipulable implement and the at least one sensor assembly generates a first signal responsive to a container associated with the human-manipulable implement being in a closed configuration and a second signal responsive to the container being in an open configuration, and the instructions are executable to identify that the first signal from the at least one sensor assembly indicates the use state, and that the second signal from the at least one sensor assembly does not indicate the use state. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one sensor assembly includes at least one of: first and second contacts arranged on first and second portions of the container, the first portion being movable relative to the second portion to open or close the container; at least one contact on a strap of the container. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one sensor assembly is coupled directly to the recreational implement and generates a first signal responsive to use of the recreational implement, and the instructions are executable to identify that the first signal from the at least one sensor assembly indicates the use state, the at least one sensor assembly comprising at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of: motion sensors, orientation sensors, heat sensors, contact sensors, vibration sensors, capacitance sensors, force sensors. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the recreational implement includes a musical instrument. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the recreational implement includes a sports device. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the activity configuration includes invoking a computer application on the device. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the activity configuration includes activating audio recording on the device. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the activity configuration includes configuring the device into a touch-less mode in which gesture input is actuated. 
     
     
       11. A method, comprising:
 identifying whether a recreational implement is proximate to a mobile computing device; 
 identifying whether the recreational implement is in a use state; 
 establishing an activity configuration of the mobile computing device responsive to identifying that the recreational implement is in a use state; and 
 not establishing the activity configuration of the mobile computing device responsive to identifying that the recreational implement is not in a use state; 
 presenting on an output device as part of the activity configuration at least one user interface (UI) comprising: 
 at least one indication related to the recreational implement; 
 at least a first selector selectable to turn off an audio recorder, which is configured to be “on” responsive to a signal indicating the recreational implement is in the use state; 
 at least a second selector selectable to turn off touchless input mode, which is configured to be “on” responsive to the signal indicating the recreational implement is in the use state. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the recreational implement includes a musical instrument or a sports device. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , wherein identifying the use state comprises receiving signals from a sensor assembly comprising at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of: motion sensors, orientation sensors, heat sensors, contact sensors, vibration sensors, capacitance sensors, force sensors. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the activity configuration includes invoking a computer application on the mobile computing device. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the activity configuration includes activating audio recording on the mobile computing device. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the activity configuration includes configuring the mobile computing device into a touch-less mode in which voice and/or gesture input is actuated. 
     
     
       17. An apparatus, comprising:
 at least a first processor; 
 at least one network adapter; and 
 storage with instructions executable by the at least first processor for: 
 receiving a sensor signal indicating a state of a recreational implement; 
 responsive to the signal indicating a use state, configuring the apparatus in an activity configuration; and 
 responsive to the signal not indicating a use state, not configuring the apparatus in the activity configuration, wherein the apparatus comprises an output device and the activity configuration comprises presentation of at least one user interface (UI) on the output device, the at least one UI comprising: 
 at least one indication that a user is using a recreational implement; 
 at least a first selector selectable to turn off an audio recorder, which is configured to be “on” responsive to the signal indicating the recreational implement is in the use state; 
 at least a second selector selectable to turn off touchless input mode, which is configured to be “on” responsive to the signal indicating the recreational implement is in the use state. 
 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the recreational implement includes a musical instrument. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the recreational implement includes sporting gear. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions are executable for:
 determining whether the recreational implement is proximate the apparatus; 
 responsive to determining that the recreational implement is proximate the apparatus and that the signal indicates a use state, configuring the apparatus in an activity configuration.